Channel 4 News: UK will stay in EU 'longer than two-year transition'

John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, warned Britain may not have a clean break from the EU. He claimed Britain could remain stuck to the customs union after Brexit, despite Downing Street insisting Britain will "categorically" leave the customs union. Speaking on Channel 4 News, Mr Springford said: “I think it is very likely that Britain will remain in the customs union for longer than the two years of transition, which everybody is talking about.”

He claimed there is “no solution” that the EU would agree with Britain on. 

Mr Springford added: “It is going to take time to put in place any kind of solution after some sort of agreement about what kind of trading relationship the UK will have with the EU is struck.”